"...I have tried to concentrate on evidence and reasoning, regardless of the source of that evidence and reasoning. Perhaps this is where the justification of my writing on the present topic lies (and ends). I have no great professional stake in siding with this or that view. I can easily exercise the freedom to change my assumptions when the facts change..." says Aklujkar.
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I hope the proceedings of the Soka University Conf. in Los Angeles will see the light of day, together with Giosan et al's response to Valdiya's comments and observations, as scholars see light on the origins of Sarasvati river. There is a saying in Tamil: rishi moolam, nadi moolam. This means 'don't dare to find the origins of a sage or a river.' Who knows? The river might have originated from plakṣa praśravaṇa (as evidenced in the Mahabharata) normally understood in Hindu tradition as the Himalayas.
हिमवतः प्रस्रवन्तिसिन्धु समः संगमः आपोह मह्यं तद्देवीर ददँ हृद्योतभेषजं (AV 6.24.1)"From the Himavat (mountain) they flow forth, in the Indus verily is (their) gathering. May the heavenly waters give to me the remedy from heart-burn!" Maybe, Rigveda was aware of himavat 'Himalaya or a snowclad or a snowy mountain or having frost or snow'. Who knows? Rigveda may not have known of sources beyond Siwaliks?
But then, Aklujkar may say, that he is focussing on Rigvedic evidence. So be it. I hope scholars will also wonder why the triveṇi sangamam tradition also refers to Sarasvati.
Kalyanaraman
Read on...
Sarasvati drowned: rescuing her from scholarly whirlpools (Aklujkar,A.15 May 2012)
I hope the proceedings of the Soka University Conf. in Los Angeles will see the light of day, together with Giosan et al's response to Valdiya's comments and observations, as scholars see light on the origins of Sarasvati river. There is a saying in Tamil: rishi moolam, nadi moolam. This means 'don't dare to find the origins of a sage or a river.' Who knows? The river might have originated from plakṣa praśravaṇa (as evidenced in the Mahabharata) normally understood in Hindu tradition as the Himalayas.
हिमवतः प्रस्रवन्तिसिन्धु समः संगमः आपोह मह्यं तद्देवीर ददँ हृद्योतभेषजं (AV 6.24.1)"From the Himavat (mountain) they flow forth, in the Indus verily is (their) gathering. May the heavenly waters give to me the remedy from heart-burn!" Maybe, Rigveda was aware of himavat 'Himalaya or a snowclad or a snowy mountain or having frost or snow'. Who knows? Rigveda may not have known of sources beyond Siwaliks?
But then, Aklujkar may say, that he is focussing on Rigvedic evidence. So be it. I hope scholars will also wonder why the triveṇi sangamam tradition also refers to Sarasvati.
Kalyanaraman